Lower House submits proposal to denounce MP's statement

MP Thandar from Eainme Township, Ayeyawady Region, submitted an urgent proposal to the Lower House on July 24 denouncing the statement by Ms Yanghee Lee, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar.

The MP said the statement issued on July 21 by Ms Lee had ignored the government’s efforts toward national reconciliation, cooperation with the UN and the factual situation in Rakhine State.

“The statement was not based on fact. It disregarded terrorist activities in northern Rakhine State as discovered by the government,” she added.

“Yanghee Lee paid no attention to terrorist attacks on civilians in the state. There is growing concern among the public about the attacks, which could make Myanmar into a stronghold for the terrorists,” the MP discussed.

“The report to be submitted by the UN special rapporteur to the UN general assembly in October will be unfair. It can lead to bad decisions. That’s why I submitted the proposal,” explained the MP.

MP Kyaw Soe Linn for Pyi Gyi Tagun Township, Mandalay Region, supported the proposal, saying Myanmar appointed Kofi Annan, a former Secretary General of the UN, as the chairman of Rakhine State Advisory Commission.

“It’s a noteworthy sign that the government stresses human rights affairs in the country,” the MP said.

He said the special rapporteur’s statement largely ignored the government’s challenges.

Lower House Speaker Win Myit approved the proposal for further discussion and invited MPs to participate.

The government was disappointed by the statement from Yanghee Lee, the State Counsellor’s Office announced this week.